About the Book
Recently separated Amelia Buxton, a dedicated journalist, never expected that uncovering the biggest story of her career would become deeply personal. But when she discovers that a cluster of embryos belonging to her childhood friend Parker and his late wife Greer have been deemed “abandoned,” she’s put in the unenviable position of telling Parker—and dredging up old wounds in the process.
Parker has been unable to move forward since the loss of his beloved wife three years ago. He has all but forgotten about the frozen embryos, but once Amelia reveals her discovery, he knows that if he ever wants to get a part of Greer back, he’ll need to accept his fate as a single father and find a surrogate.
Each dealing with their own private griefs, Parker and Amelia slowly begin to find solace in one another as they navigate an uncertain future against the backdrop of the pristine waters of their childhood home, Cape Carolina. The journey of self-discovery leads them to an unforgettable and life-changing lesson: Family—the one you’re born into and the one you choose—is always closer than you think.
From “the next major voice in Southern fiction” (Elin Hilderbrand, #1 New York Times bestselling author), Under the Southern Sky is a fresh and unforgettable exploration of love, friendship, and the unbreakable ties that bind.
My Review
I always enjoy the novels Kristy Woodson Harvey puts out, but this one especially intrigued me when I read the synopsis. With the main topic of conversation being frozen embryos that are considered abandoned – then delving into surrogacy and alternate ways of conceiving a child – I was highly curious to read this one. As someone who came into this world via a sperm donor and IVF, it’s been fascinating to watch the fiction world slowly start to incorporate this topic into books. So while I had a personal connection to the storyline, it also really fascinated me that Parker is intent on being a single dad, using the frozen embryos him and his late wife had created. While IVF and surrogacy are slowly being talked about more, it’s often from the female point of view – women deciding to go it alone – and even in my real life, I don’t know any male that has decided to take on fatherhood alone in the way Parker was. That instantly made me more intrigued, and add in Amelia and her own fertility issues, her marriage dissolving and her career struggles, and it was a perfect storm of emotions through character-driven storytelling. This one is a must read for your summer.
5 stars
